Now everyone who has studied their Bibles, knows that the idea of The Devil and Jesus playing chess for our souls is silly. (Remember Chris De Burgh's song) Also we are pretty sure that though the Devil has POWER, it is not EQUAL to that of God's POWER, but the Devil is certainly not a push over, and has a well structured army. For it is St Paul in the book of Ephesians who instructs about ARMOUR, and weapons to war. But does the DEVIL have enough POWER to keep an unbeliever blinded ? Is there a battle for a persons soul ? Or, is Satan bound up somewhere and unable to interfere with those who are still in the darkness ?

In short, 'How Much POWER Does The DEVIL have ?'


Sincerely,
HH

Originally posted by headheart

Now everyone who has studied their Bibles, knows that the idea of The Devil and Jesus playing chess for our souls is silly. (Remember Chris De Burgh's song) Also we are pretty sure that though the Devil has POWER, it is not EQUAL to that of God's POWER, but the Devil is certainly not a push over, and has a well structured army. For it is St Paul in the book of Ephesians who instructs about ARMOUR, and weapons to war. But does the DEVIL have enough POWER to keep an unbeliever blinded ? Is there a battle for a persons soul ? Or, is Satan bound up somewhere and unable to interfere with those who are still in the darkness ?

In short, 'How Much POWER Does The DEVIL have ?'


Sincerely,
HH

The short answer to this question is that I just don't know. But I have pondered a verse that has given me a little illumination into the situation (however minute that might be).

The verse is part of the wheat and tares parable. The first thing to note is that this parable comes right on the heels of the seed and the sower parable. Jesus has told the disciples that the seed and the sower holds the key to understanding all the parables of the Kingdom.

Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Matthew 13:24-30

There is no chess game or wrestling match going on to see who will be victorious. Satan is an uninvited intruder (is there any other kind?) who steals and destroys. That is his role and that is all he will ever do. God in Christ is far more powerful. Of that there is no doubt. And as far as tearing down the work of Satan, He will certainly do that in completeness when the time comes.

This is sort of where the Calvinist idea of predestination and election makes sense to me. There is wheat and there are tares. And the sowing of the tares doesn't change what the wheat is. The power of God is most clearly seen in His ability to keep His own amidst the unbelieving, reprobate world.

So I see an application that goes to believers dwelling in the midst of unbelievers and remaining faithful - and I also see the wheat as good fruit of faith in the individual's life that continues to manifest in spite of the unbelief the devil tries to introduce. Christ could, in an instant, overthrow all the works of the devil (He has, prophetically) but the outworking of that must take place once the good and the bad is separated lest the good be affected by the judgment on the bad.

In that sense, I suppose there is a battle for a person's soul. It is recognizing the tares in one's own life that allows one to see to cultivate wheat (which is only planted by God). The blind man will thrash about and just make a mess of the whole field - tares and wheat. The wise man who has sight will see to be able to guard himself from intrusion. Where there are tares, the wise man will do all he can to NOT cultivate that unbelief. That way it dies before taking root and destroying the whole field.

But an enemy certainly did create unbelief. The amazing thing is that Christ keeps His own in the midst of the worst attacks of the devil.

Not sure that helps much, but it's all I have that is remotely relevant.

As illustrated by that parable, we can also see that one important tactic of Satan is to create his own false converts/churches, which will obviously confuse people about the truth.

Originally posted by headheart

In short, 'How Much POWER Does The DEVIL have ?'

How much do you give him?

I'm serious: those people who keep their eyes on God, and don't worry about the devil, seem to not have that much of a problem with him. Those people who obsess on the nature, deeds, and character of Satan seem to see demons in every teacup.

Or every banana.

ETA: Ah, I found the quote I wanted.

"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight."
- C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Originally posted by Obsidian

As illustrated by that parable, we can also see that one important tactic of Satan is to create his own false converts/churches, which will obviously confuse people about the truth.

Man, ain't that the truth

Originally posted by nikolai_42

In that sense, I suppose there is a battle for a person's soul.

At 12 when I stepped into the ring to face Goliath, I was sure that all my training with Panther Purchase would somehow gaurantee me a victory. I struck at his head, but he was taller than I and punched me back. I launched a blow at his nose, and blood ran into his mouth. Enraged he came at me and I reached out to punch him again, and the fist attatched to his long arm hit me squarely in the face, and I went down. Technical Knockout, in round two.

When I think about power, I think about the time that Jesus spent in prayer. I also think about his words about prayer and fasting. I think about St. John, James, Peter and Paul's warnings, and the instructions to pray without ceasing. We are most definitely in a battle against an enemy that can and does interfere and frustrate the plans of God, but we do not war with words, we operate metaphorically speaking from knee level.

I believe that one can only begin to gauge what sort of power the enemy has when we begin to pray and intercede for those whom the Devil has blinded. We struggle here on Theology Web Campus to convince unbelievers of the truth of the Gospel, but words are not enough. The real battle needs to be fought in our closets, alone with Jesus at His Gethsemane, where he rebuked the disciples (us) to wait one hour. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Sincerely,
HH

Satan is NOT omnipresent and can only be in one place at a time. However he has an army of demons and has had thousands of years to set up the human social order to be antithetical to the Christian faith.

We battle 3 things; Satan, the world and the flesh. By far the biggest struggle is against our own flesh and Satan has set up the world to be as detrimental to our struggle with sin as possible.

Having said all that, it is important to remember that we mature the most when we are under trial and are going through the many awful situations that satan has brought about. It should therefore be considered that even satan has a purpose in God's redemptive plan for man and the world.

Originally posted by Obsidian

As illustrated by that parable, we can also see that one important tactic of Satan is to create his own false converts/churches, which will obviously confuse people about the truth.

I agree 100%, I only pray that God will not deal with the poor confused arminians too harshly.

BTW satan also does a great job of demonizing the reputations of truly Godly men.

If you get a chance I would love for you to read Calvin's chapter on prayer in the institutes: Book 3 chapter 20, it might surprise you.

http://www.reformed.org/master/index...ks/institutes/

Originally posted by timspong

Satan is NOT omnipresent and can only be in one place at a time. However he has an army of demons and has had thousands of years to set up the human social order to be antithetical to the Christian faith.

We battle 3 things; Satan, the world and the flesh. By far the biggest struggle is against our own flesh and Satan has set up the world to be as detrimental to our struggle with sin as possible.

Having said all that, it is important to remember that we mature the most when we are under trial and are going through the many awful situations that satan has brought about. It should therefore be considered that even satan has a purpose in God's redemptive plan for man and the world.

Thanks for your thoughtful response.

Methinks, 4 things! refer 1 Peter 5:5-11 and especially 1 Peter 5:5

1 Peter 5:8-11 (Message)

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.

Sincerely,
HH

Additional passages: Ephesians 6:13 + Matthew 6:13 + James 4:7 + Mark 9:29

Originally posted by timspong

If you get a chance I would love for you to read Calvin's chapter on prayer in the institutes: Book 3 chapter 20, it might surprise you.

I especially enjoyed Book 3, Chapter 20, verse 46. Some very powerful insight into the 'Our Father', as well as verse 12 where Calvin refers to St. Paul's details about the armour of God.

I was tickled pink, by verse 32.
Salvation Army Band. - Phil Keaggy

Thanks timspong.


HH

A wise invocation of the parable by Nikolai_42, IMHO.

My personal response (not an exegesis) is that the tares are an impurity, and that the enemy's power is not creative but is only corrosive.

Perhaps it refers to heresy within the church, or perhaps it refers to the way ego interferes with adoration. In either case, I think it speaks against the idea of 'spiritual warfare' and more towards total dependency upon Christ to deliver us from evil.

None, if Satan is currently bound. That's not to say that there isn't any groups of a demonic remnant out there still doing a little hellraising (no pun intended), but without their leader they can't really do a heckuva lot.

But, let's assume he isn't. I sincerely doubt he and his minions would be traveling around making Faustian deals with people or be able to warp reality like they're portrayed in fiction of being able to do. I could easily see them corrupting important people, trying cause division and the like, in a more systematic way than if he was bound.

But, regardless if he is bound or not, I honestly can't imagine him or his goons being present in every bad thing that happens like a lot of people seem to think. I swear, some people are more Manichean than Christian the way they go around seeing the devil in everything...

Originally posted by Chaotic Void

.... seeing the devil in everything...

And no wonder, for 'Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.' ( 2 Corinthians 11:14 )

Sincerely,
HH

Originally posted by technomage

...magician...

My he seems to have pulled the fluff over your eyes.

Originally posted by headheart

Now everyone who has studied their Bibles, knows that the idea of The Devil and Jesus playing chess for our souls is silly. (Remember Chris De Burgh's song) Also we are pretty sure that though the Devil has POWER, it is not EQUAL to that of God's POWER, but the Devil is certainly not a push over, and has a well structured army. For it is St Paul in the book of Ephesians who instructs about ARMOUR, and weapons to war. But does the DEVIL have enough POWER to keep an unbeliever blinded ? Is there a battle for a persons soul ? Or, is Satan bound up somewhere and unable to interfere with those who are still in the darkness ?

In short, 'How Much POWER Does The DEVIL have ?'


Sincerely,
HH

Satan has sufficient power to keep any unbeliever blinded, but God has sufficient power to open any eye that Satan attempts to keep closed. We are powerless against the devil without Christ...

Originally posted by Chaotic Void

None, if Satan is currently bound. That's not to say that there isn't any groups of a demonic remnant out there still doing a little hellraising (no pun intended), but without their leader they can't really do a heckuva lot.

But, let's assume he isn't. I sincerely doubt he and his minions would be traveling around making Faustian deals with people or be able to warp reality like they're portrayed in fiction of being able to do. I could easily see them corrupting important people, trying cause division and the like, in a more systematic way than if he was bound.

But, regardless if he is bound or not, I honestly can't imagine him or his goons being present in every bad thing that happens like a lot of people seem to think. I swear, some people are more Manichean than Christian the way they go around seeing the devil in everything...

Satan is not currently bound: he will not be bound until the second coming of Christ...
Revelation 20
1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

2And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

3And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.